Asalama Calykum everyone, hope everyone is doing well and all. I would like to share with you guys very touching poem a young sister who is 13 years old wrote. The poem is about the young sister's identity and her everyday struggles in life. Identity is something we all struggle with sooner or later. I am just glad i passed those teens years. I would like get your feedbacks and i am going to let the young sister know about it.I encouraged her to write the feelings and issues she deals with everyday. I thought she is pretty good writer for a 13 old girl. IDENTITY I see myself as someone who is distressed with her life Someone who would change something if she could I see someone limiting herself Someone who is afraid to speak out She wishes it weren’t how it is She’s a survivor But looking at my weaknesses, I also see my strengths I see a girl striving to hold on to her deen Yet it is been called by the world I see someone who has tried all her life for her family’s love and is still trying Someone who’d rather be alone than be with others Someone who’d rather think then listen to meaningless discussions Someone who rather stand in the shadow than go into the open Someone who’d rather carry the world on her shoulder then let the world carry her I see someone who’d like to make a change/difference yet culture doesn’t allow it Making her uncomfortable in any situation I see a girl who’d like to control her desires, not let it control her I see how she deals with other people and her goodness Yet sometimes I don’t want to be her I see me, the girl who’d rather hurt herself than see anyone else hurt Who’d hide the grief than let it out A girl who patience is her goal and not having a super-model body Reflecting back, I see a girl who tried to have a good behavior But was replied back with a bad behavior I see someone who’d rather waste her childhood than see her mother displeased I see a girl whose dream is to have a piece of mind She is a young Muslimah who knows her happiness isn’t in this world but in Jannah with the ummah She is special because society didn’t change her But someday, she will change society. INSHA ALLAH!

Everyone thanks for the reply.. Ameen: Divorce is a big issue for women than men. That's a just fact in our somali community. The reason it is a big issue for women is because it effects their status and reputation. Once a woman gets divorced, it is little difficult to find second husband.From what i observed, most somali women's self esteem is damaged big time. In our community divorce is shamful and the woman somehow caused it. If the woman was just patient enough, obedient enough and good enough, divorce would not happened. My oldest sister got divorced few years ago. Her self esteem hit the bottom and she became depressed. She went back to the guy because she really believed she would never find someone else. Because of that, she accepts things she shouldn't accept like.him not providing for his kids and ..drinking problem. It is really sad. I have girlfriend who got divorced twice and she is only 24 and another one who is in the process of getting one. My other sister also got divorced and went back..my mom's friend's two son got divorce. and my other cousin did as well...i can go on and on. This is trend is that going and i just hope something is done about. In the United States, the divorce rate is 60% as you guys know.

Asalam Calykum All, I hope everyone is doing well.I haven't been posting anything for a while now just because time issue. Divorce is very important topic and it is something that our community is not discussing for whatever. It is big concern for me because i know so many people (young people) who are getting divorced, remarrying and getting divorced again.I do not want to go through that pattern myself and it worries me. Something needs to be done about this. otherwise, we will end up with enormous number of young single mothers. What do you guys think? what do you guys think is the solution? How can we stop this pattern before it destroyes our family organization and values? What are these young people doing wrong? I would really appreciate your opinions.

Asalam Calykum guys, a friend emailed me this and i wanted to share it with you guys. Some of it is true and funny! 1. You pronounce your p's as b's ( bolice and airblane) 2. You make Tea before leaving home, when getting to the office, after lunch, when having guests, before the guests leave, after the guests leave and before going to bed. 3.You ask your dad a simple question and he tells you a story of how he had to walk miles just to get to school. 4. Your parents were ranked first in school. 5. Your dad swears at you with words that affect himself. (Ibni-lkalb) 6. You've had a shoe or slipper thrown at you by your mother. .... 7. You only walk on the streets in groups of seven or more people and talk really really loud in arabic together. 8. You still have, stored in suitcases,clothes that you used to wear when you were five 9. Your wardrobe consists of black, black, and more black... 10.Your Armani pants don't fit you, but you wear them anyways. 11.Your parents say you're becoming Americanized anytime you get into trouble. 12. Three or more relatives live in your neighborhood. 13.You talk for an hour at the front door when leaving someone's house. 14. When your parents meet strangers and talk for a few minutes, you discover you're talking to a distant cousin. 15. Your parents don't realize phone connections to foreign countries have improved in the last two decades, and still scream at the top of their lungs when making long distance calls. 16.You say bye 17 times on the phone. ... 17. After a family meal, the women fight to the death over who should wash the dishes while the men sit on their behinds and discuss politics, waiting for their tea. .. 18. You call an older person you've never met before"Ammo" or "Khaltu". 19.One of your aunt's weighs over 300 pounds. ... 20.Your father is a doctor or engineer. 21You hide everything from your parents, but they still think they know everything about you, and make you beleive that they actually do. 22. People are never happy with what you've achieved. If you graduated from school they'll tell you "3o2bal el-Shahadeh el kbeereh", and when u get that "3o2bal bel Aroos or Areees", and when you get that "3o2bal ma nefrah be Aoulad-kum", and when you get that "3o2bal ma tefrahu bi shahadit-hum", etc.. 23. Getting a visa to Europe or the States is like getting a baby, everybody tells you "mabrook" 24. Everytime you fly back home you meet relatives you never knew existed, and they look nothing like your family. 25.If you are 25 and not married yet, your parents make you feel that you are getting too old. 26. Getting married becomes the only way you can escape your parents. 27.You tell your friends how to rebel against their parents when you can't even stay out past midnight. 28.You fight over who's going to pay the bill 29.Your family is over at your house all the time 30.There is no such thing as quiet time 31.You always say "Open the light" instead of "Turn the light on" or "get down from the car" instead of "get out of the car." 32.Going for eid prayer is a fashion show and a free brunch 33.You cant help but laugh when you hear the word TEASE 34.Your spouse is also your first cousin. 35.Your family own a grocery store, a convieniance store, or gas station. 36. You're dad is fat and blame it on the kids, or he is bald and blame it on the stress. 37. You smoke as if it were your last day on earth...and you only smoke MARLBOROS. 38. You wear more cologne than deodorant. 40. You pronounce "comfortable" cun-fort-a-bull. 41. You say the letter "h" like "etch." 42. You put olive oil in and on everything and brag about how healthy it is. 43. Your parents drink 6 cups of tea a day... 44. You have an endless supply of pistachios, dates, and pumpkin seeds. .. 45.You flip out when someone mistakes you for a Mexican or Pakistani 46. You gossip about your own family...with members of your own family. 47. You have more than 4 kids. 48. You eat humus at least 3 times a week. 49. You cook a meal that lasts 4 days. 50. Everyone is a family friend. 51. At parties, you think it's cool to dance and smoke at the same time. 52. You pity anyone who is not an Arab and think all other cultures are morally corrupt. 53. You have fruit trees in your backyard and when they are in season you live on them. 54. You watch the hell out of the Arabic channel and talk crap about the rest. 55. You have 500,000,000 cousins. 56. At weddings it takes 4 hours for the guests to kiss and say salam to the bride and groom. 57. You have a gold/siver necklace of your name written in Arabic. 58. You bump to Arabic music at all times! 59. Your middle name is your father's first name. 60. If you are male, you're named after your grandfather or great-grandfather. 61. You play cards till the break of dawn. 62. You can spot an Arab a mile away and they have spotted at you because they keep staring. .. 63. You can't have a meal without Arabic bread. 64. You have a houka as a centerpiece in your living room. ... 65. If you are an Arab woman, you dye your hair an obviously fake shade of blonde that is nonexistent in nature and swear that it's natural. 66. You feel proud when someone famous or a celebrity has any Arabic blood in them. ( i.e Massari) 67. You teach your American friends Arabic words (mostly bad ones) and get happy when they use them in normal conversations. 68. Your aunt asks you when she can dance at your wedding. 69. You have a difficult Arabic name to pronounce so you come up with an Americanized version of it like "Sam" or "Moe." 70. You love Um Kalthoom and if you don't, your dad makes you listen to her and tries to translate the words into English so you can appreciate her as much as he does. 71. If you're a single Arab guy, you tell women you're a "successful businessman" or that you "own a successful business back home" even if you're an unemployed goat herder. 72. Your favorite food is warag el enab or lukhiya , but you are embarrassed to tell your friends that you eat leaves for dinner. 73. You get really happy and call the whole family to the room when there is a special or documentary on Arabs or anything Arabic related on CNN or PBS. 74. You use a social ground to meet potential wives/husbands 75. You have a uni-brow...and if you don't, you pluck it. 76. You own and/or play a tableh 77 .You go to an Arabic restaurant, tell the owner you're an Arab, and expect to get free food.- 78.You've heard Amr Diab's "Ya Nour el Ein" 764363 times in yourlifetime. 79. Your dad always yell at you when you're driving cause the speed limit is 4o and you're going 50. 81. You either tip 2% or 50% but never 15%. 82. When you're invited to some occasion for you and your spouse to go to at 4 ...you show up at 6. 83.When shops have a sale, they call your mom. 84. Your mother has a minor disagreement with her (or your dad's) sister and doesn't talk to her for ten years. .... 85.When you come back from University you still have to live with your parents, and fight over curfew all over again, as if you never left them before. 86.You always curse at Arabs when you are back home, but when you live abroad you only make Arab friends. 87.When someone calls you an arab... you tell them you're Egyptian or Palestinian or Syrian...theres a difference 88.you have enough pita bread in your freezer to feed a small african country 89.Your mother yells at the top of her lungs to call you to dinner even if you're in the next room. .... 90.You have told your or a relative's kid not to walk the floor barefoot or they'll catch a cold. .. 91.Your relatives alone could populate a small city. 92.When you go on a date you start thinking of lousy places where nobody would go to so you won't bump into family or friends. 93.You end up in a lousy place and still bump into the relative with the biggest mouth!!!!!!! 94.You are EXTREMELY proud of being an Arab 95. You know the yahood are responsible for everything (they are!)

Asalaam calykum my brothers and sisters. I am doing research paper on whether religion can solve america's social problems and i would love to hear your feedback on this topic since this is very debatable topic. thanxz!

Asalaam calykum everyone, How is everyone? I missed you guys..As you guys know i don't post stuff anymore because i don't have time and i wouldn't know what to post anymore. I hope everyone is doing well. I was just wondering as i was reading the post questions, I would really like to meet one day soon all of you guys especially the senior members. It would be great and fun! I have always wanted to do that and i don't know see why not. we can schedule a time that would suit everyone's schedule and meet. We could meet my city. I really feel somaliaonline is my second home becaus this was the place i used to express my crazy ideas. .lol..and i love you guys.. I mean i was 17 yrs old when i used to post here but now iam 20 yrs... and i want to meet you guys..

Hey everyone, How ya doing? Iam doing fantastic..as i got older and older, i have more questions with no answers.u probably wondering what are the questions..i tell u..just hold ur horses..lol..i started posting on somaliaonline when i was teenage..for me it was a place to ask anything that came to my mind at anytine..even in the middle of the night..lol..i was very curious about everything especially men,relationships and love..i wanted to know what was the big deal..what made man fall for a certain women..what made someone love another person..how many kinds of love are there...how u know if someone really love you and etc..I watch too many romantic movieS and read romance..so that didn't help either..lol..as i grow older..i found the answers to those questions myself and they were unexpected..however still today iam struggle with myself as young woman..I want to know WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF REAL MAN AND REAL WOMAN. AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

Hey u guys..how u guys been? i really missed all of ya too..I DID NOT GET MARRIED HOWEVER.lol.I just got busy with school and work and basically life..my old days when i had nothing to do but think a topic to post here is way over..lol..but i missed those days. When i look back some of the topics i posted..i ask myself what was i thinking..god..iam actually embarrased..i wonder if that comes with getting older..lol..life is crazy.

Kaafi: Hey, long time no chat.lol..how u been? Thanxs for the support..Actually, i want everyone to be in it.brothers, sister, mothers,fathers, grandparents, and even little kids.This not only for ATL people. It is for all somalis all over the world. Nafisa:Thanxz sister!

Asalaam calykum everyone? How are you guys doing?how is life? God i haven't been here for so long! I missed everyone, even those i couldn't stand. Anyways, i want to share something i been thinking about lately. Through my friends, i meet this lady who makes films and she show me a film she made called"Imagine Peace" and it was very inspiring film.So i asked the lady if she can make me a film. in the film, i want to interview young, middle age, and older somalis and i want them to talk about how they felt about the war, their expectation of the future, the things they can do to support people back home,and ect.You guys, i really want to do this. I want to ask older people their advice to younger generation and how they can work together.I mean this can turn something important. Than after the film is done, i will gather the somali people in Atlanta and show to them.Than afterward, i want to have discussion. What do you guys think? Help me think a name for the film. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK OF THIS!YOU GUYS ARE THE FIRST I TOLD.

Assalam calaykum everyone, how ya doing? We always talk about issues we have in our somali community which is normal.Every community has it's own problems.My question to you guys is how come nobody is taking any action to correct those issues before they get out of hands?It seems like all i ever hear is talk and more talk on how we have some serious issues and this and that.so what iam saying is we need solutions to some serious problems and we need it fast but i just don't see it coming.In fact just thinking about it makes me feel hopeless! let me know what you think!

Asalam Calykum everyone. How is everyone doing? I was thinking what if we treat marriage as a business? Do ya think there would be less divorced people in our somali community?what if we put love as the last thing in our list and look for someone have the things that really matter? After all u can learn to love someone after sometimes.. what do u guys think? let me know..got run..take care!

there are others who in the real life are quite friendly, full of energy and creativity, talkative, slick well clued-up with the current events, But when it comes to Somaliaonline, they become shy, quiet, backward, withdrawn, inhibited, unfriendly, aloof. yes that's me for some reason those days..i love reading topics but most of the time i don't reply . Then there are those whom their personality in Somaliaonline represents their personality in the real life...their intellectual and interesting topics and replies are factual manifestation of a smart and an interesting personality. I also think that applies to me..lol :cool:

Well..I think ATLANTA got very gorgeous somali females but..lol.. we got few good looking guys.but u see since we got more females..even the not so good looking ones think they millions dollars..u know So If any guy is Looking for beautiful, smart, educated,hardworking somali woman..ATL is the place to look..LOL

loool..u really make laugh..

How is everyone doing?iam just fine.. Here is one topic we never talked about it..so it is time we cover this cause it is very important. so my question for you is ARE U FEMALE WHO GET ALONG WITH OTHER FEMALES OR ARE U ONE OF THOSE FEMALE WHO DISLIKE OTHER FEMALES? AND WHY IS THAT? Reply I don't have problem getting along or making freind with other females.I have got betrayed by a female before but that didn't stop me from making other great girlfreinds..

asalam calaykum everyone how u guys been? i have good question and i want to know ur opinion... When too people love each other,and they can't stand one another, when is enough is enough?

i don't like the idea of my future husband being good friends with another female..i think the only good friend who is female should be me ,myself and i..lol.okay!..besides he probably won't like me been close to another guy..just like i won't like him been close to another female..

asalam calakyum everyone..how is everyone doing? Iam observer and i be noticing things..and i have noticed that some people get better treatment just base on external appearance..especially some somali people do this.so what do u guys think of that? For example..i have this very good friend of my and i do not like the way some people be treating her sometimes...and my friend is good person..so iam wondering maybe it is because the way she look..it is like people judging her by her looks and decided that she should be treated certain way..i don't know

There many ways to approach females..like ameenah said..being straight forward can scared the person away..so approach the girl confidently and just chat with her like u would with anyone..take ur time getting to know her..i wouldn't rush..after all ur feelings might go away after u get to know her or increase..either way.. good luck!

The most romantic..okay..well since i love reading and taking long walk in sunny days..my guy took me to the park, brough picnic( my favortie food), and he ask me to bring one of my books..so we had picnic and we read to each other and then we took long walk in the warm sun..it was great!

Everyone: Thanxz for ur suggestions.all of them are good ideas!..

This is how i see it..Real true love is suppose to be unconditional.without any expectation and without pay back..love is free gift and u can't demand someone else to love u back just because u love them..as for marriage..well that's is or should be between two people who feel the same way about each other and who love and appreciate one another..so no i won't marry someone whom i don't love and they shouldn't be asking me to marry them in the first place..that's very selfish thing!.

I don't think they should have to pay for extra. I mean why should they?just because they take more space than anyone else?..instead why can't there be bigger seats for them?

Asalam calaykum everyone! how ya doing.. My freind's birthday is coming and i don't know what to get for him..i never bought anything for a guy before..so anyone have any suggestions? I would really appreciate it..